What a satisfying day! Somehow, amidst all the joking, laughing, and ever-present threat of rain, we managed to finish all the exterior painting, tearing down the scaffolding, cleaning the decks, and mounting the drywall at Leaster's home. She stopped by again today with excitement fairly leaping out of her face and body. Now we can see the delineation of rooms and begin imagining how this space will eventually be filled with appliances, furniture, decorations, and a loving family.
The house on Division Street has made progress as well. It's more difficult to see it (especially in photos) than on the first site, but that team has been working at least as hard as we have. When I stopped over this afternoon, the team was finishing off the rafters to a very unique and complicated roof structure. This was designed in part by the homeowner to incorporate a greywater system.
The idea is that the rainwater will be collected from the roof into a cistern that is being created in the center of the house (image below). Very cool!
We were also told some of the background to why it's being built so high. See, the homeowner is a fisherman who works the waters of the Gulf,and at this height, he can stretch out his nets under the house. Everyday they have brought over homemade egg rolls to all the workers on the site; one batch in the morning, and one in the afternoon, because they are best when fresh and hot. It doesn't matter if you're there for a week, a day, or simply for a conversation; the gratitude for any contribution, large or small is to be rewarded with this kindness.
The care and attention paid to each of these homeowners by Craig Snow of HopeForce is profoundly generous. There are limitations of time and resources, but if it's possible, they do all they can to make requests happen. He further upped the ante by inviting our entire crew over to his new house to share in a fine dessert of banana pudding and apple pie, made with his own two hands as a gesture of appreciation for the week of work we've given him and those he serves. I'm happy to report that they were a big hit with everyone who stopped by tonight. We were able to meet his wife, Becky, and took some time to reflect on what this week and its work have brought to our own lives. Many expressed anger and frustration with the situation that has brought us here, tears flowed for the people who are not here and seem all-but-invisible to the rest of the world, and there was a lot of laughter for the joy and friendships built through working hard to provide a home to deserving folks.
No one of us will leave Biloxi unchanged.
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